The last time I was in Alaska I was six months old, living in Sitka with my parents while my dad worked for the U.S. Forest Service. My twin sister and I were tiny preemies, so my parents decided to cut bassinet costs and have us each sleep in one Xtratuf boot. (Not really.)

Although I didn't have any memories of Alaska myself, legacies of my parents' five-year Alaskan adventure were scattered throughout my childhood and included quilts made by fellow Sitkans, the aforementioned Xtratufs, a childhood cat named Sitkitty, and a giant state map hung in the front hall - first in Denver, where we lived for the first half of my childhood, and then in Philadelphia, where we moved when I was nine and where my parents remain now.

Before coming to Haines, I lived in St. Petersburg, Russia for five months on a fellowship from my former university. I left in early March when the war broke out and spent the rest of the spring in Poland volunteering with Russian-speaking refugees. My duties mostly included slicing spam-which, it turns out, will make anyone want to become a vegetarian-as well as opening cans of herring and making drawings with small children. I also learned that blueberries are called "American berries" in Polish.

This is my first real stab at journalism, but I have always enjoyed writing, meeting new people, and asking questions. Throughout my childhood, my parents called me "The Great Interrogator" because of my habit of grilling guests. I think this sounds slightly aggressive, so I am trying to rebrand, perhaps to "The Philadelphia Inquirer."

A few other things about me: I play the cello, which is either very dorky or very cool depending on who you ask. (When I was eight I insisted on playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the edge of the Grand Canyon.) I love Russian literature, being outside, drinking coffee, and sleeping (these last two interests occasionally clash). Two goals for the summer are to form–or join–a band and to learn to drive a stick shift. When I told my sister about this second goal, she laughed very loudly and said "good luck." I am very sorry in advance if I stall on the road in front of you.